About Objectivism

The Penn State Objectivist Club studies and promotes the ideas of philosopher-novelist Ayn Rand, the bestselling author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Ayn Rand was the founder of a revolutionary philosophy, which she called Objectivism.

Objectivism holds that reality is absolute, that reason is man’s only means of gaining knowledge, and that man’s highest moral purpose should be to rationally advance his own life. Ayn Rand believed that the only political-social system that recognized man’s right to live for the sake of his own life and not his neighbor’s was laissez-faire capitalism.

Interested in learning more about Objectivism?

* = viewable for free online
** = available to borrow from P$OC

1. Where to Start

• Introduction to Objectivism*
• Essentials of Objectivism*
• Summary of Objectivism*

2. Read Ayn Rand’s Novels

• Atlas Shrugged**
• The Fountainhead**
• Anthem**
• We the Living**
• More…

3. Read Objectivist Non-Fiction
By Ayn Rand:

• Philosophy: Who Needs It
• Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal**
• The Virtue of Selfishness**
• The Voice of Reason
• Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology
• The Romantic Manifesto
• Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution
• More…

By Leonard Peikoff:

• Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand**
• The Ominous Parallels

4. Read the Objectivist Perspective on Current Events
(Also see periodicals produced by Objectivists in the sidebar)
ARI Op-Eds*:

• The Financial Crisis
• Health Care Reform
• Environmentalism
• In Defense of Oil
• Business
• Capitalism
• Culture
• Foreign Policy
• Individual Rights and Law
• Religion
• Science

On Libertarianism:

• Ayn Rand Q&A On Libertarians*
• On Moral Sanctions*
• Libertarianism: In Pursuit of No Government*
• Libertarians: The Party of Surrender*
• The Libertarian Anti-Manifesto*
• Libertarianism: The Perversion of Liberty

5. Experience the Objectivist Sense of Life
Art:

• Quent Cordair Fine Art*
• Lee Sandstead Photography*

Articles:

• Andrew Bernstein’s writings on heroism*
• CapMag articles on the glory of skyscrapers*

6. Talk to Objectivists

• Join P$OC
• Enroll in the Objectivist Academic Center